Airport Engineering, Design, & Construction
The FAA develops engineering, design, and construction standards for civil airports, heliports, and seaplane bases. This includes standards for airfield pavement; airport lighting, marking, signs, and other visual aids; safety during construction; surveying and GIS data; deicing, ARFF, and other facilities; bird radar and foreign object detection systems; and more.
- Accessible Airport Facilities
- Airport Airspace Analysis
- Airport Design: Additional Tools and Drawings for AC 150/5300-13
- Airports GIS Program
- Airport Lighting
- Airport Pavement Design and Construction
- Mitigating Runway Incursions and Excursions
- Modifications of Standards for A380s, B747-8s, & New Large Aircraft
- New and Emerging Entrants On Airports
- Open or Close an Airport or Runway
Advisory Circulars (ACs)
- Series 150 AC Library
- AC Checklist for AIP, BIL and PFC Projects (November 17, 2022)
- DOT Special Collections - Historical ACs (1957-2000)
Registration required
Airport Design, Engineering, & Construction Standards
Airport Guidance & Policy
Engineering Briefs (EBs)
- EB 107: Aeronautical Study of 5G C-Band Antennas (PDF)
- EB 106: Guidance for the Implementation of Changes in Industry Cement Standard Specifications
- More »
Engineering Policy Memos (EPMs)
- Engineering Policy Memo 23-02: Airport Data and Information Portal (ADIP) Document Library (added May 11, 2023)
- More »
Other Guidance
- ACC/FAA Best Practices, 2008 (PDF)
- Awareness of and Guidance on Maintaining Airport-Owned Approach Lighting Systems and Visual (Including Lighted Navigational) Aids (added 9/15/2023)
- Clarification of Declared Distances for Non-turbine Powered Airplanes (PDF) (editorially updated 7/22/2020)
- FAA Review of Construction Plans and Specifications for AIP Funded Projects (PDF)
- Interim Guidance on Proposed Commercial Space Facilities and Operations at Federally Obligated or Part 139 Airports (PDF)
- Policy Guidance on Approach and Departure Surface Protection (added 9/2022)
- Thermal Exhaust Plume Impact on Airport Operations: Technical Guidance and Assessment Tool (PDF)
- Orders
- Procurement and Contracting under the AIP
Data, Tools, & Resources
- Airport Acronyms
- Aircraft Characteristics Database
- Airport Data and Information Portal (ADIP)
- Airport Diagrams (digital - Terminal Procedures Publication)
- Airport Design Software
- FAA Technical Center Library
- FAA Wildlife Strike Database
- Foreign Object Debris Program
- National Flight Procedures (Instrument Approach Procedures)
- Reports
- Factsheets
Research & Development
- Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)
- Airport Technology Research and Development
- National Airport Pavement Test Facility
Related Information
- Acquiring Land for Airports and Relocation Assistance
- Aeronautical Survey Program (National Geodetic Survey)
- Air Traffic Publications
- Davis-Bacon Wage Determinations
- Posters
- Flight Procedures and Airspace Group: Directives, Advisory Circulars, Letters & Memos
- Instrument Procedures Handbook
- Military Specifications and Standards
Regional Supplemental Guidance
Additional guidance on this topic is available for the following regions of the country:
- Central (IA, KS, MO, NE)
- New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
- Northwest Mountain (CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY)
- Southern (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, VI)
- Southwest (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
Popular Forms
| Subject/Title | Number | Other Formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration | 7460-1 | E-filing (follow instructions on site) | Notifies the FAA of construction or alteration that might affect navigable airspace (49 CFR part 77) |
| Notice of Actual Construction or Alteration | 7460-2 | Notifies the FAA of construction or alteration that might affect navigable airspace (49 CFR part 77) | |
| Notice of Landing Area Proposal | 7480-1 | E-filing (follow instructions on site) | Notifies the FAA of any construction, alteration, activation, deactivation, or change to the status or use of a civil or joint-use (civil/military) airport (part 157) |
| Construction Progress and Inspection Report | 5370-1 | MS Word (43 KB) | The information collected on this form documents the progress of construction work on a project funded with a Federal grant under the AIP. OMB exp. 8/31/2019. |
Recent Federal Register Notices
Last updated: Friday, September 15, 2023